An introduction to the collaborative law alternative.
Under the collaborative law alternative, the two parties to a dispute each choose a lawyer trained in the collaborative law process. As an active member of the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council, Ms. Wasserman is trained in the use of collaborative law and is pleased to offer this approach for divorce and other family disputes.
If Ms. Wasserman is representing you as a collaborative lawyer for the purpose of divorce, your spouse will need a collaborative lawyer to represent him or her. If your spouse does not yet have a lawyer and would like a recommendation, Ms. Wasserman can help by making appropriate referrals.
Once you and your spouse have each retained a collaborative lawyer to represent you, you will each sign an agreement to work collaboratively with your lawyers and with each other to reach a fair and reasonable settlement. And you agree up-front that if your negotiations break down, you will not use the same lawyers to litigate your dispute. This stipulation limiting the lawyers' services is intended to enhance the commitment you and your spouse are making to reach a settlement. Now you, your spouse and your lawyers meet together and work cooperatively toward settlement. The four-way meeting is a basic part of the collaborative law process.
Collaborative law, like mediation, draws upon your positive instincts --encouraging you to resolve your dispute through dialogue and creative compromise.
Lawyers have always been able to use a "collaborative" perspective to help clients reach negotiated settlements. The element unique to the new "Collaborative Law" alternative is the stipulation regarding litigation, along with the emphasis on four-way meetings. As a lawyer, Ms. Wasserman can assist you with either traditional negotiated settlement or collaborative law.
Ms. Wasserman received her collaborative law training through the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council.
Copyright © 2002-2009 Marion Lee Wasserman
